Starting and gear-shifting mechanism.



J. P. NIKONOW.

STARTING AND GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8, I914.

1,206,355. 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. P. NIKONOW.

STARTING AND GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 1914.

1,206,355 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

"IINVENTOR Ja/m P Mkmow BY v .v

J I r x J. P. NIKONOW. STARTING AND GEAR SHIFTING'MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DE C. IB. 19H.

7 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Fiq'Z lNVENTbR John P. N i konow.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY vide UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.1031: P. mxoivow, or WILKINSIBUR'G, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STARTING AND GEAR-SHIFTI'NG MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. NIKoNow, a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of A116- gheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Starting and Gear-Shifting Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to startingand gear shifting mechanisms and particularly to means for effecting the changes in speed ratio of the transmission mechanisms of antomobiles or other motor vehicles. I

My invention has for its object to provide a simple arrangement whereby the usual starting motor of a motor vehicle may be employed to supply the power necessary to actuate the gear shifting mechanism for controlling the transmission mechanism.

In the operation of manually operable gear shifting mechanisms, considerable power is required. to effect the various changes in speed ratio. It has been proposed to provide a separate power device for actuating such mechanisms, but such devices are not only expensive but add materially to the weight of the vehicle. A further disadvantage of such devices is that'their operation is accompanied by a considerable shock because of the inertia of the moving parts.

.ing motor may be employed to supply the power-necessary for actuating the gear shift- A spring which actuates the gear shifting mechanism is pressed by the starting motor. The spring released'by the actuation of the usual clutch pedal to disengage the engine clutch.

his arrangement provides that the movable gear wheels of the transmission mechanism are shifted only when the transmission clutch is disengage In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in plan and partially in 1 section. of the transmission mechanism of an automobile and its related invention applied thereto. Fig. 2- is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the mechanism of Fig. 1-. Fig. 3 is an end view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the mechanism of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits and apparatus embodving my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the gearparts, a with my Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 18, 1914. Serial No.

According to my present invention, I proa simple means whereby the usual startfirst com--- hers I8 and 19'to Patented'Nov. 28, 1916. 877,898.

shifting mechanism, parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gearslnfting mechanism. Fig. 7-is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the mechanism of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1,2 and 3, an automobile engine 4:, only a portion of which is shown, has a shaft 5 11p0n which is mounted the usual The transengine shaft 5 by'a rotatably mounted sleeve member 8' and a conical clutch member 9 which coacts with a correspondingly shaped clutch member 10 formed in the fly wheel 6.

The clutch member '9 is connected to the her 11 clutch member 10 in the clutch pedal lever tion.

The details of the transmission mechanism form no Thegear wheels 16 and 17 are connected by any suitable means comprising yoke meni; a gear shifting mechanism Indicated at 20.

The details of the gear shifting-mec'hanism 20 form no part of the present inven- The mechanism is illustrated'diagrammatically in Fig. 5. Two shift rods 0 and 20", which are connected by any suitable means to the movable gear wheels 16 and 17, are actuated by the shaft 21. It will be understood, however, that any of the existing or commercial forms of electromagnetically controlled gear-shifting mecha'-' nisms having a single actuating member may be substituted for the mechanism illustrated. The gear shifting mechanism co'mprisesa shaft 21 to which power may be applied for the actuation of the mechanism.

lever arm 22, which is fixed on the shaft 21. is normally held in the inoperative po-' .sition of the gear shifting mechanism by a ioo notched lever 23 and a spring 24. The lever 23 has a lost motion connection with a link 25 which is connected to the pedal lever 14.

The lever 22 is connected to a sleeve 26 which is slidably mounted on a shaft 27 that is provided with screw threads of a relatively steep pitch. A traveling nut 28, which coacts with the threaded portion of the shaft, is prevented from rotating therewith by a projecting portion 29 which slides in a groove 30, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. A spring 31 surrounds the shaft 27 and is compressed between the nut 28 and the sleeve 26 when the former is actuated longitudinally of the shaft.

- An electric motor 32 is supported by a bracket 33 that is integral with the casing of the transmission mechanism. The motor isprovided with a. pinion 34 which is com nected to the sleeve member 8 of the transmission mechanism by means of a gear wheel 35, pinion 36, gear wheel 37 and a one-way clutch 38 of the usual roller type. The pinion 34 is connected to the shaft 27 by means of the gear wheel gear wheel 39 and a one-way clutch 40 that is similar to the clutch 38.

The clutches 38 and 40 are so arranged that one of them is operative only when the motor operates in one direction and the other is operative only when the motor rotates in the reverse direction. The direction of rotation of the motor is controlled by any suitable switch mechanism, as for example, a double-throw switch 41, illustrated in Fig. 4. j

Reference may now be had to Fig. 4 which is adiagrammatic View of the circuits and apparatus employed in connection with my invention. The motor 32 is supplied with current from a battery 42. throw switch 41 operates, according to its position, to interchange the connection of the motor terminals to the terminals of the battery.

The gear shifting mechanism may be of any well known'selective type, such, for .example, as that shown and described in a co-pending application, Serial No. 840,655, 30 filed May 25, 1914, by John E. Webster,- and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, and it may. be assumed that it is controlled by electromagnets 43 and. push buttons designated ac- 35 cording to N (neutral), R (reverse) and 1, 2 and 3 for.

first, second and third speeds, respectively.

The motor circuit may be closed by means of any of the several push buttons for con- 5 trolling the gear shifting mechanism when the switch 41 is in the gear shifting posi-- tion.- When the switch 41 is in the starting position, the push buttons are rendered in- 1 l operative to control the motor circuit.

65 Reference may now be had toLFigs. 6

The double-- the corresponding speed ratio as lower position to close the, motor Current then flows from the positive side of 130 and 7 in which the details of the gear-shifting mechanism 20 are illustrated. The shift rods 20 and 2 0 are slidably mounted in-a housing or casing 49. The yoke members 18 and 19 respectively connect the shiftable gear wheels 16 and 17 of the transmission mecha-v nism to the shift rods 20 and 20*. Two block members 50, which are slidably mounted upon the shift rods 20 v and 20, are connected by links 51 to lever arms 52 that are carried by a rock shafts 21, one of which carries the lever 22, are operatively connected by gear seg: ments 53.

Each of the shift rods is provided with a longitudinal groove 54. Four dogs 55, that are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the blocks 50, are each provided with a hook portion 56 for engaging the respective shift rods. Each of-the dogs 55 is provided, also, with a. horizontally extending portion 57.

pair of rock shafts 21. The

Springs 58 normally retain the dogs 48in the positions shown in Fig. 7 with the hook portions 56 resting upon the bottoms of the grooves 54. a I

The electromagnets 43 are respectively mounted upon the exterior of the side walls of the casing 49 and adjacent to the corners of it. Each electromagnet comprises a movable core member that projects into the casing 49 position in the path pf movement of the corresponding dog 55 by a spring 59. When the windings of the several electromagnets are energized, the core members are with-' drawn from the path of movement of the dogs 55.

In the operation of the gear-shifting mechanism, a single electromagnet is energized to select the desired speed ratio. The core member is withdrawn from the path of and is normally held in its extended movement of the corresponding dog 55 while the other core members remain in their illustrated positions. It will be readily understood that, upon the actuation of the rock shafts 21- and the blocks 50 that are connected thereto, the dogs 55 move outwardly in opposite directions.

All of the dogsv 55, except the one coacting with the core member of the magnet that is energized, are. rotated about'their points of pivotal support in order that the hook portions do not engage the corresponding shoulders at the end of the grooves in the shift rods. The other dog 55 engages the shift rod with which it 'coacts and effects the shifting of the connected gear wheel to the desired position.

It may. be assumed that the various parts are in their respective illustrated positions except that'the switch 41 is in its open or mid position. To start the engine, it-is only necessary to actuate the switch 41 to its circuit.

clutch 38,

shaft 27. 'It may be noted the battery, through a series field winding 44 of-low resistance, the switch 41, armature winding 32 and switch 41 to the negative side of the battery. The motor then rotates in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to rot-ate the engine shaft through a mechanism comprising the pinion 34, gear wheel 35, pinion 36, gear wheel 37, sleeve members 8 and 11, clutch members9. and 10, and fly wheel 6.

When the engine starts power, the switch 41 is actuated to its upper or running position to open the motor circuit and to render thepush buttons operative to control the gear shifting mechanism. During the starting of the engine, the gear wheel 39 is rotated in a clockwise direction, but the clutch is inoperative to rotate the that, .in order to it is necessary that the clutch pedal lever 14 be in its rearward position in order that the clutch members 9 and 10 may be in engagement.

\Vhen it is desired to connect the engine start the engine,

shaft to the transmission shaft of the vehicle, one of the push buttons for controlling the gear shifting ated. It may be assumed, for example, that it is desired to start on first speed and the corresponding push button 1 is accordingly actuated. A circuit is completed which extends from the positive side of the battery 42 through the series'field winding 44, a series field winding 46 of relatively high resistance, switch 41, armature winding 32, switch 41, push button 1' andits corresponding-electromagnet 43, to the negative side of the battery. The motor 32 then rotates in acounter clockwise direction to rotate the shaft 27 through a mechanism comprising the pinion 34, gear wheel 35, gear wheel 39 and clutch 40. The rotation of the shaft 27 causes longitudinal movement of the nut 28 to the right, as shown, to compress the spring 31. Movement of the sleeve member 26 is prevented by a pin 47 on the link 16.

When the spring 31 is fully compressed, the

motor, 32 is brought to a stop and acts asa torque motor to retain the spring under compression until it is released. The operator then actuates the pedal lever 13 forwardly to disengage the clutch members 9 and l0and to actuate the bell crank lever.

23 .to release the lever 22. The spring 31 then actuates the sleeve 26 to the right, as shown, to actuate the gear shifting mechanism to effect the desired connection of the gear wheels of the transnnssion mechanism 7. The operator then releases the push button 1 and the pedal lever 14 to effect the engagement of the clutch members 9 and 10 to operatively. connect the engine tothe transmission shaft 45. The, opening of the motor circuit frees the shaft 27 from the torque applied to it and the clutch spring under its own mechanism 'is actu- 15, which has been compressed, operates through the lever 14, link 25 and a pin 47 to return the slidable sleeve 26, the spring 31 and the traveling nut 28 to their respective inoperative positions. The pitch of the threads on the shaft 2 7.permits the nut 28 to rotate it backwardly during the return movement of the latter. During the gear shifting operation, the gear wheel 37 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, as shown, but the clutch 38 is inoperative to connect the gear wheel 37 to the sleeve 8.

When it is desired to change the speed ratio, the push button corresponding to the desired speed is actuated, and the gear shifting mechanism operates in the manner above described in connection with the first speed -neutral positions, when one of them has been shifted, it is cessively actuate the pedal lever 14 as described above in 'connection with the shifting of one of the movable gears to their respective operative positions.

It will be noted that I provide an arrangement whereby the usual starting motor may be rotated in reverse directions to actuate the engine shaft and the gear -shifting mechanism, respectively. The engine maybe started only when the engine clutch is in engagement and the gear shifting mechanism may be actuated only when the engine clutch is disengaged. The storage of energy in a spring, which actu 'tes the gear shift? ing mechanism, avoids all shock incident to the inertia of the various moving parts.

"I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a gear shifting mechanism, an energy storage device for actuating said mechanism, and a power device, of means for controlling said mechanism and for simultaneously causin said power device to supply energy to sai storage device. I

2. The combination with a gear shifting mechanism, a spring for actuating said only necessary to suemechanism, and a motor, of means for simultaneously controlling said mechanism and causing said motor to store energy in said s ring.

3. T e combination with a gear shiftin mechanism, a spring for actuating sai mechanism, and a motor, of common means for controlling said mechanism and said motor to cause said motor to store energy push button N and the tion of said motor.

7. The combination with an engine shaft, a gear shifting mechanism, a spring for actuating said mechanism, and a motor, of means comprising one-way mechanisms for operatively connecting said motor either to said shaft or to said spring, according to the direction of rotation of said motor.

8. The combination with a gear shifting mechanism, a spring for actuating said mechanism and means comprising coacting screw-threaded members and a motor for storing energy in said spring, of a clutch,

and means comprising a lever for. controlling said clutch and the actuation of said mechanism.

9. The combination with a gearshifting mechanism, an actuating spring therefor,

and means comprising a rotatable shaft, a screw-threaded member on said shaft and Y a motor for actuating said shaft for storing energy in said spring, of a clutch, a controlling lever therefor, and means controlled by said lever for releasing said spring to actuate said mechanism.

10. The combination with a gear shifting mechanism, an actuating spring therefor, means comprising a rotatable shaft, a screwthreaded member on said shaft and a motor for storing energy in said spring, and means for releasing said spring, of a clutch, and a lever for controlling said clutch and for actuating said releasing means when said clutch is disengaged.

11. The combination with an engine shaft, a gear shifting mechanism, and a spring for actuating said mechanism, of means comprising an electric motor having a low re sistance circuit for actuating said engine shaft and a high resistance circuit for storing energy in said spring.

12. The combination with a gear-shifting mechanism, an energy-storage device for actuating said mechanism, and a power device, of means for controlling said mechanism and for simultaneously causing said power device to supply energy to' said storage device, said mea-ns comprising a push button and a plurality of electrical circuits.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of Dec, 1914.

JOHN P. NIKONOW. 

